Dry Electrode Device and Method of Assembly

ABSTRACT

An electrode set is disclosed that has two separable parts including an assembled base with printed circuit board basement, biasing member and top cover and an electrode. The basement and top cover may be made by metal or conductive material.

FIELD

The device relates generally to a dry electrode for skin contact.

BACKGROUND

Electrodes generally are well known and electrodes that can be used tomeasure an electrical signal of the human body, such as a brain wave.Most of the known electrodes require a special treatment to the headsince most currently used electrodes for measuring the brain wavesrequire either electrodes that are wet with gel or needle electrodes.Thus, it is desirable to provide a dry electrode device and it is tothis end that the present invention is directed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 are exploded assembly diagrams of a dry electrode set; and

FIG. 3 illustrates an assembled electrode set.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ONE OR MORE EMBODIMENTS

The electrode is particularly applicable to the electrode structuresdescribed and illustrated below for attached a surface electrode to skinand it is in this context that the electrode set will be described. Itwill be appreciated, however, that the electrode set has greater utilitysince it can be assembled or manufactured with different elements thanthose described below and be within the scope of the electrode setdisclosed herein.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are exploded assembly diagrams of a dry electrode set 20.The electrode set may include two separable parts including a baseportion 21 and an electrode 22 wherein the base portion and theelectrode can be separated from each other, such as to replace theelectrode. The base portion may further comprise a top cover 24, abiasing mechanism 26, such as a spring, a base 28 and a basement 30. Thebasement 30 with its teeth passes through the base 28, captures thebiasing mechanism between the basement and the top cover 24 and securesitself (using the teeth) to the top cover. The basement 30 and the topcover 24 may be made out of a metal or any conductive material.

As shown in FIG. 2, the electrode 22, which is removable andreplaceable, may further include an electrode cap portion 40 and anelectrode post portion 42 with a retaining ridge 43. The electrode postportion 42 may be press fitted into the top cover 24 so that it engagesthe biasing mechanism 26 to bias the electrode away from the base 28 sothat the retaining ridge 43 is pressed against the top cover. Thebiasing of the electrode away from the base 28 means that the electrodeset, when assembled, can be pressed against the user and the spring willmaintain a connection with the skin of the user.

The electrode may be a button type electrode that may be a silver-silverchloride surface electrode or a silver or gold plated surface electrode.The button type electrode may be a dry or wet electrode. In operation,the electrical current being generated based on the measured signal bythe electrode passes through the electrode (which is conductive) and thebiasing mechanism (which may be metal or conductive) to a connection 52as described in more detail below. In the electrode set 20, theelectrode 22 may have one or more different length electrode postportions 42 so that different pressures may be applied to the skin ofthe user.

As also shown in FIG. 2, the base 28 may further comprising a set ofcircuitry 50, such as the circuits on a printed circuit board, and aconnection 52, such as a wire, that connects the set of circuitry in theelectrode set to a bio-amplifier (not shown) so that a bio-signal whichdetected by the electrode can be processed. The set of circuitry mayinclude a circuit on the base for connecting the electrode to abio-amplifier, conductive material and pins for wiring and one or moreASIC chips can be mounted on the base when available.

FIG. 3 illustrates an assembled electrode set 20 with the electrode 22,the top cover 24, the base 28 and the basement 30 exposed. Whenassembled as shown, the electrode 22 is biased away from the base 28that allows the electrode to pivot in any direction as well as rotate toaccommodate the contours of the skin on which the electrode is placed.The biasing of the electrode away from the base 28 also allows theassembled electrode set 20 to be pressed fitted against the skin of theuser since the biasing mechanism (not shown in FIG. 3) can compress, butmaintain the electrode set in a pressing relationship against the skinof the user.

While the foregoing has been with reference to a particular embodimentof the invention, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the artthat changes in this embodiment may be made without departing from theprinciples and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined bythe appended claims.

1. An electrode set, comprising: a base having a conductive biasingmechanism, an opening and a connection; a conductive electrode having acap portion and a post portion connected to the cap portion, the postportion having a retaining ridge; the electrode is inserted into theopening of the base wherein the electrode is releasably retained in thebase by the retaining ridge, the electrode is pivotable and rotatable inthe opening of the base; and wherein a signal detected by the electrodepasses through the conductive electrode and the conductive biasingmechanism to the connection.
 2. The electrode set of claim 1, whereinthe conductive electrode is replaceable.
 3. The electrode set of claim1, wherein the conductive biasing mechanism further comprises a spring;4. The electrode set of claim 3, wherein the base further comprises abasement, a set of circuits and a top cover connected to each other.